Refrigerated produce package



OC- 20, 1931. s. J. GALLAGHER 1,828,179

REFRIGERATED ,PRODUCE PACKAGE Filed 0G15. 8, 1929 Patented Oct, 20, 193iUNITED STATES PA'TENT* orrlca SAMUEL J'. GALLAGHEB, OFBBAWLEY,CALIFORNIA l nnrnrennarnn Pnonncn PACKAGE Application led 0ctober'8,1929. Serial No. 338,179.

This invention relates to an improved means and method for packingproduce and Athe like, and has for one of its principal objects theprovision of a ship ing container eliminate discoloring and spoiling ofthe v product, and which will further eliminate the possibility ofbruising while at the same time keeping it in good condition over amaximum shipping perlod. l Still another and further important object ofthis invention is to provide a means and method of packing and shippinglettuce andy similar vegetables which will be slightly, if any, moreexpensive than the ordinary methods now in use while at the same timeenabling the shipper to consistently secure a. top market price for theproduct.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparentfrom the dis# closures in the accompanying drawing and followingspecification.

The inventlon, 1n a preferred form, is illustrated in the drawing andhereinafter .more

' fully described.

In the drawing :I

The figure is a side elevation, partly broken away, showing' a crate ofhead lettuce packed.

in accordance with the of this invention. i

As shown in the drar\7in,g`sf\`v The reference-numeral 10 indicatesgenerally the bottom of a-wooden crate or the improved principles l likesuch as is ordinarily used for shipping lettuce and similar produce. Thecrate is provided with end members 12 and sides 14, and has 4fittedthereinto the usual removable top 16, preferably having a cleat 18forming a portion thereof. .This insures a farlytight fit between thetop edges of the crate and Y. the lid.

In use, the bottom ofthe crate is first covered with a lining of paper,cardboard, or

pasteboard, the thickness or weight of which may be varied as occasionrequires. Upon this lining is placed a layer of some absorbentleliminating much of the tendency to bruise.

Another layer of cellu-cotton or similar packed lettuce whereupon afurther layer of,` heads of lettuce 24.- is placed in the crate,andagain covered with crushed ice 26. This process is repeated until itheinterior has been built up to approximately the level of the top of thecrate whereupon a layer or liner of paper or cardboard 28 is placed ontop just underneath the cover 16.

The absorbent fabric of cellu-cotton or the like as shown at 22 acts toboth retain pracvabsorbent material 22 is then placed over the s ticallyall of the water drippings from the ice and also to cushion the lettuce.This eliminates ,the necessity of re-icing lthe package while enroute,as the layers of absorbent material are preferably watersoaked. beforebeing placed in the crate. They are then kept moist during transit bydrippings from the melting ice, the`dripp1ngs gravitating over thelettuce and then being absorbed and retained by the pads. This absorbentmaterial is inherently of such a nature that avery considerable amount,if not all, of the drippings from the meltingl ice will be ab orbed andthen evaporated on account of the circulation of air through the cellsofthe material, and in 'and -around the package itself.. Thlscon- -Stantevaporation measurably, 1f not com- I which the circulatory system ofthe vegetable springs, is continuously in contact with the somewhatwater-soaked absorbent materlal,

and a certain amount of this water is accordinglydrained into thevegetable, thereby aiding in keeping it fresh. This provides thoroughrefri eration from both above and below the proc uce, and additionallythe absorbent qualities of the cellu-cotton retain practically all ofthe water from the melting ice instead of allowing the same `to run ofi`through the bottom of the crate, this result being noticeable even invery hot weather. Any consequent evaporation of the absorbed water willalso tend to keep down the teinperature of the package, therebyrendering the melting of the ice more slow.

Further, the cushioningvv effect of the absorbent pads prevents thestriliin of the lettuce against the crushed icc whereby bruisingeliminated, and the fact that the cushioning pads are absorbent allowsthe water from one layer to drip down through the pads into the butts ofthe lettuce in the next layer, thereby the butts are kept moist anddiscoloration prevented.

It will be seen that herein is provided a novel and useful means andmethod of packing and shipping lettuce and similar produce, which eventhough slightly more expensive at the outset, will save its cost manytimes over in that the necessity for re-icing during shipment iseliminated, and further the fact that the product will almost invariablyreach its destination in prime condition, enabling the shipper tocommand the top market price.

Again the consumer is assured ofaa much more superior product whereinany spoiling or tendency to spoil has been positively prevented.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details ofconstruction varied throughout a. wide range without departing from theprinciples of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limitingthe patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the priorart.

I claim as' my invention:

1. A refrigerated package Jfor shipping vegetable products, comprising acrate, layers of non-absorbent material at the top and bottom of thecrate, a layer of cella-cotton onhthe bottom layer of non-absorbentmaterial, a layer of vegetable products on the cellu-cotton, and crushedice filling the interstices between the vegetable products.

2. A refrigerated package for shipping vegetable products, comprising acrate, layers of non-absorbent material at the top and bottom of thecrate, a layer of cellu-cotton on the bottom layer of non-absorbent malterial, a layer of vegetable products on the cellu-cotton, and crushedice filling the interstices between the vegetable products, a furtherlayer of cellu-eotton above the layer of 1 vegetable products, andanother layer of vegetables products and crushed ice above the saidcellu-cotton layer.

Lezaivo SAMUEL J. GALLAGHER.

